Rear sight for shot guns and the like



SEARCH 33-254. (we jf uzzq avl SR Jan. 18', 1966 J. GRADIJAN 3,229,371

REAR SIGHT FOR SHOT GUNS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 14, 1963 Jan. 18, 1966 J. l. GRADlJAN 3,229,371

REAR SIGHT FOR snow GUNS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct 14, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 TWICE United States Patent 3,229,371 REAR SIGHT FOR SHOT GUNS AND THE LIKE John Ivan Gradijan, 340 21st Ave. SW., Calgary, Alberta, Canada Filed Oct. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 315,789 8 Claims. (Cl. 33-56) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in rear sights for shot guns and the like.

Although the invention herein described is related to use on shot guns, nevertheless it can readily be used on r-ifles if desired.

It should be stressed that the invention is for use when single bullets are fired and not when scattered shot is being used.

It is well known that local state and provincial agencies are gradually moving toward the banning of high powered rifles for game hunting such as deer, bear, moose and the like, due to the fact that the high powered rifles slug can travel many thousands of yards and still retain considerable killing and injuring power.

Furthermore such high powered slugs are readily deflected by branches and proceed in directions other than which they were aimed with the consequent risk of injury to innocent personnel.

The so-called rifle slug is being advocated for such forms of big game hunting, said rifle slugs normally being used with a shot gun.

These slugs are relatively heavy and weigh up to 490 grains and contains suflicient killing power within the range that they are normally used (up to approximately 300 yards) and thereafter rapidly lose their killing power and elevation thus making hunting much safer than heretofor.

Furthermore, due to the weight of such slugs, they are not so readily deflected by twigs, branches and the like.

However, it is desirable to have a rear sight for use upon shot guns using rifle slugs in order to increase the accuracy of the operator and such rear sights should be adjustable for elevation and range. Furthermore they should be retract-able so that they do not interfere with the normal operation of the shot gun when using scattered shot.

It is appreciated that adjustable rear sights are obtainable but such sights normally include indicia which has to be viewed while setting for the desired range.

Big game hunting requires rapid adjustment for range, preferably without taking ones eye from the target.

I have overcome the disadvantages inherent in conventional rear gun sights by providing a device which can be sighted in for a given weight of bullet and for a plurality of standard ranges such as 50 yds., 100 yds., 150 yds. and the like.

Once the sight has been preset, it can be clicked into position readily and easily without the necessity of viewing any indicia or the like.

The principal object and essence of my invention is therefore to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the various range positions can be sighted in and preset.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the sight component can be retracted completely within the body portion of the device so that it does not interfere with normal scattered shot operation of a shot gun.

A yet further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which provides limited adjustment for windage and the like.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the range sighting can be reset for use with different weights of bullets.

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A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is readily attachable to the stock of a conventional shot gun.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture, and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as here inafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of my device per se.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of my device.

FIGURE 3 is a section through FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an end view of FIGURE 3 substantially along the line 4-4 thereof but with the disc and spindle removed.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary schematic section along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an end view of the range adjustment disc substantially along the line 66 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a rear view of the sight component show- .ing the internal gearing.

FIGURE 8 is a side elevation of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view substantially along the line 99 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of FIGURE 8.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Proceeding therefore to describe my invention in detail, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which reference character 10 illustrates the upper surface of the gun stock 11, said stock inclining upwardly as at 12 towards the junction between the stock and the barrel thereof (not illustrated).

My device collectively designated 13 is adapted to be secured to the upper surface 10 of the stock by means of a front screw 14 and a pair of rear screws 15 (one of which only is illustrated).

It comprises a body portion 16, the external configuration of which is shaped to fit the gun stock and presents a triangular configuration when viewed in side elevation.

An apertured sight component collectively designated 17 is adapted to be received within the upper surface 18 of the body portion and the configuration and construction of this sight component is shown in detail in FIGURES 7 to 10 inclusive.

It comprises a horizontal main portion 19 having a front guide leg 20 formed thereon and depending downwardly from the main portion 19. A bifurcated rear leg portion 21 is also formed integrally with the main portion 19 and depends downwardly from the rear end 22 of the main portion and the inner surface 23 of one of the bifurcated legs 21 is provided with rack teeth 24, the purpose of which will hereinafter be described.

The front leg 20 is adapted to slide vertically within an aperture 25 formed within the body portion 16 and the bifurcated rear legs 21 are also adapted to slide vertically within an aperture 26 also formed within the main body portion 16 and reference to FIGURE 1 will show the top plan configuration of this apertured sight component and its engagement within the body portion 16 of the device.

A longitudinally extending sighting bore 27 is formed through the main portion 19 of the sight component terminating, at the rear face 28 thereof, in a recessed bevel sighting aperture 29.

Between the bore 27 and the sighting aperture 29 is a bore 30 of reduced cross sectional area within which ling plate slides transversely within a receiving slot. and

ilregisters against a small compression spring 33 as clearly shown in FIGURE 9, A screw threaded set screw 34 engages the other side 35 of the sighting plate and perm ts the sighting plate to be moved transveresly within the sighting bore, (within limits) for windage adjustment purposes.

The underside of the main body portion 16 is apertured as at 36, said aperture being bounded at the rear end thereof by means of partition wall 37.

Spaced rearwardly from this wall 37 is a shouldered wall 38 with concentrically located shoulder 39 formed tllgereon and extending rearwardly from the body portion A shaft 40 is journalled for rotation within a bearing aperture 41 formed within the partition wall 37 and also within abearing aperture 42 formed within the rear wall 38 and it will be noted that the diameter of this shaft increases at the rear end 43 thereof when it pass-es through the aperture 42. A gear 44 is secured to the shaft 40 against the enlarged portion 43 thereof, said gear engagmg the forementioned rack teeth 24 of the sight component 17.

A washer 45, freely mounted upon shaft 40, bears against the partition wall 37 and compression spring 46 surrounds the shaft 40 within the recess 36 and is held upon the screw threaded end of the shaft 40 by means of nut 47, so that the spring reacts between the washer 45 and the nut 47 thus normally maintaining the shaft 4t) 1n the position shown in FIGURE 3 but permitting slight endwise movement in the direction of arrow 47' against pressure of spring 46 as will hereinafter be described.

A disc plate 48 is secured to the enlarged end 43 of the shaft 40 by means of pin 49 engaging both the shaft and the disc as clearly shown in FIGURE 6.

The disc is provided with a plurality of screw threaded apertures 50 in two concentric circles, said apertures passing clear through the disc plate 48. The inner surface 51 (see FIGURE 3) of this disc plate is recessed by the provision of an annular rim 52, said rim fitting over the aforementioned shoulder 39 of the rear partition 38 and it will be noted that the width of this rim is sufficient to provrde a relatively small space 58 between the inner or front surface of the disc plate 48 and the partition 38.

A detent 54 is provided upon the surface 55 of the shouldered portion 39, said detent extending from the base 56 of the shoulder 39 towards the center thereof and the cross section of this detent is shown clearly in FIGURE in schematic form.

A plurality of set screws 57 are provided and are engageable selectively within several of the aforementioned apertures 50 and the inners 58 (see FIGURE 3) of these set screws project beyond the inner face of the disc 48 and bear against the surface 55 of the shoulder 39.

It will therefore be seen that as the disc plate 48 is rotated, the inner end of the set screw nearest the detent will ride the detent by forcing the shaft and disc in the direction of the arrow 47' and against the pressure of spring 46 and will seat within the detent and be held there against inadvertent movement by means of the pressure of spring 36. However, the screw end engaging the detent can be disengaged by rotational pressure to the disc sufficient to overcome the tension of spring 46.

A cover plate 59 is secured centrally to the shaft 43 by means of screw 60 thus holding the cover and the disc in position upon the shaft.

For ease of turning, it is desirable that the periphery 61 of the disc 48 be knurled as clearly shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2 and for sighting purposes I have provided a plurality of indicia 62 engraved upon the annular rim 52 of the disc 48.

In operation, the disc 61 is rotated so that the apertured sight components 17 is flush with the upper surface 4 18 of the body portion as clearly shown in FIGURE 3 whereupon a specific screw 50a is inserted within the lowermost aperture so that the inner end of the screw engages the detent. This means that the apertured sight component is fully retracted so that the device does not interfere with the use of the shot gun for scattered shot.

The shot gun is then sighted in, for example, a 50 yd. range by adjusting the side elevation until direct aim through the sight to the target results in a direct hit. A further screw specifically designated 50b is then inserted within the aperture which is lowermost and in line with the detent 54.

Sighting in is continued at the various ranges and the relevant screws inserted whereupon the cover plate may be replaced by means of screw 60.

When game is sighted, the range is estimated and the disc 48 rotates until the relevant screw clicks into position Within the detent.

For example, if the screw in the detent is for a range of 150 yds. and game appears at yds. it is merely necessary to move the disc counterclockwise until the next click occurs and then the operator will know that it is set for 100 yd. range.

The aforementioned indicia 62 upon the collar 54 facilitates the initial sighting and adjustments and can of course be related to minutes of angle so that at a given range the operator knows, when sighting in, that one indicia equals an elevation of say 1 /2 inches.

These indicia can also be used when it is desired to change the settings for bullets of a different weight.

If the operator has presighted the gun for different ranges and different weights of bullets, he may well know that when changing from one bullet to another it is necessary to move the screws 50 to a screw threaded aperture which is in alignment with the detent after the indicia has been moved say two divisions.

The uppermost limit of the aperture sight component is controlled by an extension 24' formed on the lower end of the rack 24 as shown in FIGURE 7.

In conclusion, by sighting in the rifle at varying ranges and inserting the screws in the relevant apertures, the operator can aim directly at the target and be assured that the bullet will hit the target whereas, when using rifle slugs in conventional shot guns, allowances of as much as 8 to 12 inches have to be made because of the tremendous drop in elevation of a bullet of this weight over normal operating ranges.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A rear sight for shot guns and the like and adapted to be secured on the upper surface of the stock thereof; comprising in combination a body portion, means to secure said body portion to said stock, an apertured sight component extendablemndmretractable within the upper portion of said body portion, means on said body portion operatively connected to said sight component for said extension and retraction, and means cooperating between said last mentioned means and said body portion for adjustably presetting a plurality of extending positions of said sight component, said sight component including a rear vertical guide leg and a front vertical guide leg engageable inyertically positione d g u i de slot formed in said body portion, said guide slots extending from the upper sii'i'face'"of"'said body portion towards the base thereof, said rear vertical guide leg including a rack gear formed on one surface thereof. r

2. The device according to claim 1 in which said means on said body portion operatively connected to said sight component includes a shaft journalled for rotation in a horizontal position within said body portion and extending rearwardly therefrom, means on the rear end of said shaft to rotate said shaft, and gear means on said shaft engagable within said rack gear.

3. The device according to claim 2 in which said means for presetting a plurality of extended positions of said sight component includes a multiaperturedfldisc secured tosaid rear end of said shaftIEiTapertures being screw threaded internally, a plurality of screws selectively engageable Within a selected number of said apertures, the inner ends of said screws extending beyond the front surface of said disc, and detent means of said body portion selectively engagable by said inner ends of said screws as said disc is rotated.

4. The device according to claim 3 in which said shaft is endwise shiftable within limits against spring pressure whereby said ends of said screws are held within said detent against inadvertent movement, said ends being disengagable from said detent by rotational pressure suffi' cient to overcome said spring pressure.

5. The device according to claim 1 in which said apertured sight component includes a longitudinally extending sight bore, a sight plate spanning said bore intermediate the ends thereof and means to adjust said sight plate within limits, transversely of said bore.

6. The device according to claim 2 in which said apertured sight component includes a longitudinally extending sight bore, a sight plate spanning said bore intermediate the ends thereof and means to adjust said sight plate within limits, transversely of said bore.

7. The device accordingly to claim 3 in which said apertured sight component includes a longitudinally extending sight bore, a sight plate spanning said bore intermediate the ends thereof and means to adjust said sight plate within limits, transversely of said bore.

8. The device according to claim 4 in which said apertured sight component includes a longitudinally extending sight bore, a sight plate spanning said bore intermediate the ends thereof and means to adjust said sight plate within limits, transversely of said bore.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 860,429 7/ 1907 Windridge et a1 3356.5 1,138,709 5/1915 Windridge 3356.5 3,100,936 8/1963 Angelica 3358 ISAAC LISANN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A REAR SIGHT FOR SHOT GUNS AND THE LIKE AND ADAPTED TO BE SECURED ON THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE STOCK THEREOF; COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A BODY PORTION, MEANS TO SECURE SAID BODY PORTION OF SAID STOCK, AN APERTURED SIGHT COMPONENT EXTENDABLE AND RETRACTABLE WITHIN THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID BODY PORTION, MEANS ON SAID BODY PORTION OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SIGHT COMPONENT FOR SAID EXTENSION AND RETRACTION, AND MEANS COOPERATING BETWEEN SAID LAST MENTIONED MEANS AND SAID BODY PORTION FOR ADJUSTABLY PRESETTING A PLURALITY OF EXTENDING POSITIONS OF SAID SIGHT COMPONENT, SAID SIGHT COMPONENT INCLUDING A REAR VERTICAL GUIDE LEG AND A FRONT VERTICAL GUIDE LEG ENGAGEABLE IN VERTICALLY POSITIONED GUIDE SLOTS FORMED IN SAID 